Kamloops Blazers to retire Scott Niedermayer’s jersey

The Kamloops Blazers will retire Scott Niedermayer’s No. 28 at a pre-game ceremony in January, honouring the Cranbrook native for his contributions to the club in the early 1990s.

“In my opinion, Scott is the best defenseman of his era,” commented Tom Gaglardi, a co-owner of the Blazers, in a press release. “Throughout his hockey career, Scott excelled and won at every level. His pedigree of winning and resume of accomplishments speaks for itself.”

Niedermayer suited up for 156 games with the Blazers and had 47 goals, 143 assists and 190 career points. The defenceman was instrumental in the Blazers first Memorial Cup win in 1992. Niedermayer fed a breakaway pass to Zac Boyer, who scored with 14.6 seconds left to lift the Blazers to a 5-4 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 1992 Memorial Cup final.

He went on to an incredible professional career in the National Hockey League, winning four Stanley Cups over a 17-year career with New Jersey and Anaheim, accumulating 784 points in 1263 NHL games.